Combined picture frame and merchandise magazine



A. GRAHAM March 2, 1937.

COMBINED PICTURE FRAME AND MERCHANDISE MAGAZINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 22, 1936 A. GRAHAM' March 2, 1937.

COMBINED PICTURE FRAME AND MERCHANDISE MAGAZINE Filed Sept. 22', 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2750)" Cara Tana,"

TIER- Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE COMBINED PICTURE FRAME AND MERCHANDISE MAGAZINE Application September 22, 1936, Serial No. 102,044

7 Claims.

The invention relates to a combined picture frame and magazine or holder for the sale of merchandise.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an ornamental and highly attractive picture frame having permanently attached thereto at the back thereof a magazine or holder for merchandise and adapted to display an attractive, popular picture, such as the picture of a movie actress or other person or other subject matter framed in the picture frame and supported in displaying position by the container or wrapper of the merchandise within the magazine or holder.

The invention also has for its object the provision of an attractive, easel-like picture frame of the above-mentioned character and also in a form for an effective display of the article of merchandise in its original use and capable of subsequent effective use as a frame for pictures and the like in the home of the purchaser of the goods originally contained in' the magazine or holder of the picture frame.

A further object of the invention is the provi- 5 sion of a device of the above nature which will not only form an attractive holder of either merchandise or pictures but is an elfective support in either use and requires but minimum change in its conversion from one use to the other.

With these general objects in mind, the further and more specific objects as well as the construction, relation and operation of its several parts will more clearly appear in the course of the following description in detail of the best modes so far devised for carrying the invention into practical effect, and by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the same,

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the device in its position of original use for displaying a picture in the frame of the device held in the frame by the merchandise within the magazine or holder.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same, the parts being shown in displaying position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line l4 of Figure 3, the bottom of the merchandise containing tray being fitted against the picture.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the top of the merchandise holding tray fitted against the picture for supporting the same in the frame.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tray with the top or cover slightly raised.

Figure 7 is a front elevation showing the device in position of original use for displaying an article of merchandise.

Figure 8 is a rear perspective thereof as originally formed.

Figure 9 is a similar view with the easel leg extended.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View on the line IO-4e of Figure '7.

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line lI-ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the merchandise tray and its transparent cover removed.

Referring particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, I designates a picture frame of rectangular form designed to be constructed of cardboard or other suitable material and preferably suitably ornamented or embellished, and this may be accomplished, as plainly shown in Figure 1, by an embossed or otherwise decorated covering 2 of metal foil or other material presenting an attractive appearance.

While the picture frame is preferably coated with an embossed metallic foil, it may be ornamented or finished in any other desired manner.

The picture frame has permanently attached to its rear face a merchandise magazine or holder preferably consisting of a single piece of cardboard or other suitable material and rectangular in form and of shallow depth and having a limited area compared with the outer margins of the picture frame having a rear flat wall 3 and top, side and bottom walls 4, 5 and 6. Of these, the top wall 4 is free to form a closure flap permitting ready access to the space between the side walls 5, and the side walls 5 and bottom wall 6 have laterally deflected terminal edge portions 1 secured, as by means of a suitable adhesive, to the rear face of the rectangular picture frame I.

The rear wall 3 is provided with means effective to support the holder in upright position with the lower edge of the picture frame I resting upon a counter or other suitable supporting surface, and to this end said rear wall 3 and a portion of the bottom wall 6 may be out along lines defining an easel leg 8 and a latch member 9, which, when bent outwardly and rearwardly, may be relatively engaged as shown in Figure 3 to hold firmly the easel leg 8 in rearwardly projecting position wherein its lower edge is in substantially the plane of the lower edge of the picture frame I.

Within the magazine of the picture frame is an article holding tray l which is readily slidable into and out of the upper end of the magazine when the top wall or flap is open, and which comprises a flat bottom i l longitudinal side walls l2 and i3 and a top l4 hinged to the side wall It. The ends of the tray l0 are open and said tray is of approximately the depth, width and length of the inside of the magazine. The tray is packed with the merchandise to be sold with the picture frame and when placed within the holder it may be arranged either as shown in Figure l of the drawings or as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings for supporting a picture l5 in the picture frame. In Figure 4 of the drawings the tray is initially placed in the magazine with its bottom H to the front and in position for supporting the picture I5, while in Figure 5 of the drawings the tray is placed initially within the magazine with its top 14 supporting the picture 55. While the merchandise to be sold with the picture frame is preferably arranged in a container consisting of the tray H3, it may be otherwise wrapped or placed in any other desired form of container such as a cellophane Wrapper and, when placed in the magazine, it will hold the picture in proper position in the picture frame for displaying a framed picture. Any desired picture may be displayed in the picture frame, such as the picture of a movie actress, but a picture of any other character may be displayed in the picture frame, and it will conceal the merchandise and the wrapper or container of the same. A transparent sheet I6 of cellophane, glass or any other transparent sheet material may be placed over the picture if desired; or the picture can be omitted so that such sheet material covers and protects the merchandise which may be viewed therethrough, thus placing the merchandise on display.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 7 to 12, inclusive, of the drawings is illustrated a display device consisting of a holder preferably rectangular in form and of shallow depth having a rear flat wall ll and top, side and bottom walls l8, l9 and 20. Of these, the top wall H is free to form a closure flap permitting ready access to the space between the side walls l9. The side walls 59 and the bottom wall 26 have laterally deflected terminal edge portions 2! secured, as by means of a suitable adhesive, to the rear face of a rectangular picture frame 22 forming an open front wall, through the opening of which the interior of the holder is exposed.

The rear wall I1 is provided with means to support effectively the holder in upright position with the lower edge of the picture frame 22 resting upon a counter or other suitable supporting surface, and to this end said rear wall I! and a portion of the bottom wall 2!) may be out along lines defining an easel leg 23 and a latch member 24, which, when bent outwardly and rearwardly, may be relatively engaged as shown in Figures 9 and to hold firmly the easel leg 23 in rearwardly projecting position wherein its lower edge is in substantially the plane of the lower edge of the picture frame 22.

Since the container as a whole is for display purposes, the front face of the picture frame 22 is preferably suitably ornamented or embellished as before explained in the description of the picture frame 5.

Within the holder constituted as above described is an article holding tray 25 which -is readily slida-ble into and out of the upper end of the holder when the top wall or flap I8 is open and which comprises a flat body having flanges 26 of approximately the depth of the inside of the holder along its longitudinal edges. This tray is packed with the merchandise to be displayed and, when placed within the holder with its body fiatwise against the rear wall l1, it is entirely concealed by the merchandise and the picture frame 22, and the merchandise is in plain View through the open front frame, though preferably covered by a sheet or layer of substantial cellophane or glassine or other transparent material indicated at 21.

When originally provided to a dealer, the easel leg 23 is flatwise in the plane of the rear wall I! of the holder and, although this rear wall is apertured or slit, it will be noted it is fully covered upon its inner face by the flatwise contacting body of the tray. When the container with its merchandise has been sold, it is an easy matter to open the top wall or flap l8, remove the tray 25 and, after taking the merchandise therefrom, the tray'25 may be replaced in a reverse position, that is, with its flat body adjacent the front frame 22 so as to serve as a backing member for a picture which may be originally affixed upon its rear or outer face or a selected picture so placed by the user. Thus, after purchase and removal of the merchandise, the container may be easily and quickly converted by the purchaser into a picture frame for home use and an attractive ornarnent and display frame.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described including a picture frame, a merchandise magazine attached to the picture frame at the back thereof, a picture, and a merchandise receiving tray including a bottom, side walls and a hinged top, said tray being initially placed within the magazine with its bottom in position to support the picture in displaying position framed by the picture frame.

2. A display container consisting of a holder having a rear foldable supporting leg forming an integral part of its rear wall, an open frame forming its front wall, and an inner removable member consisting of a body and edge flanges reversibly mounted in the holder and in one position serving as a merchandise tray with its body flatwise against the rear wall of the holder and. in another position serving as a picture backing with its body flatwise across the open front frame.

3. A display container consisting of a holder having a rear wall and a rear member for supporting the container in upright position, an open frame forming the front of the holder, and a flanged merchandise tray including a fiat body disposed against the rear wall of the holder in its normal position, said tray being removable and reversible to position its flat body across and against the inner surface of the front frame whereby to serve as a picture backing.

4. A display container consisting of a holder having an open front frame, side walls, one of which forms a flap for access into the holder, and a rear wall apertured and slitted and forming a rearwardly bendable easel leg and a locking flap for said leg when bent rearwardly, and a merchandise tray removably mounted in the holder having a flat body normally against and covering the said apertured rear wall of the holder, said tray having flanges of the depth of the holder to support the body thereof against the rear wall in the above position and to hold the tray body against the front frame when the tray is reversed in the holder.

5. A display container consisting of a holder having a rear wall and side and end walls, an open frame forming the front wall thereof, said side walls and one end wall having laterally deflected portions secured to the rear face of the front frame, the other end wall being free of the front frame and forming a closure flap, said rear wall having an integral easel leg and a locking member for said leg struck therefrom to support the holder in upright position, and a tray in said holder consisting of a flat body adapted to lie flatwise against the rear wall in one position and similarly against the front frame in another position, said fiat body having side flanges of approximately the depth of the holder to brace the flat body of the tray in both of its positions.

6. A device of the class described including a picture frame, a merchandise magazine located at the back of the picture frame and comprising a rear wall and top, bottom and side walls spaced from the marginal edges of the picture frame, the side and bottom walls having laterally deflected terminal edge portions secured to the picture frame and the top wall being free of the picture frame and forming a closure flap for the merchandise magazine, a merchandise receiving tray open at the ends and including a bottom, side walls and a top hinged to one of the side walls, and a picture supported by the tray and framed by the picture frame and concealing the tray.

7. A device of the class described including a picture frame, a merchandise magazine secured to the picture frame at the back thereof and comprising a rear wall slitted and forming a rearwardly bendable easel leg and a latch member for said leg when bent rearwardly, a merchandise receiving tray arranged within said magazine and covering the slitted portion of the rear wall thereof and a picture supported by the tray and framed by the picture frame and concealing said tray.

ARTHUR GRAHAM. 

